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1000 Mile Review: Pirelli P-ZERO VELO 4S Road Tyres 25mm

Words by scotbAdmin

on 31/10/2017 12:45:53

As the name suggests, over the past 6 weeks I’ve been fortunate enough to be rolling on Pirelli’s flagship all condition tyre the P-ZERO VELO 4S in a 25mm format as previously mentioned in our First look review.

First Impression

Taking the VELO-4S out of the box the tyre feels far more premium that the £43.99 RRP should suggest. Pirelli really has thought of first impressions here, a Sturdy cardboard box gives you a mere glimpse inside of what goodies are to come and rightly so; add in a neat rubber wrist band that hold the tyre folded and your sold.

Back in the summer when we were introduced to the brand, a key initial feature you will find as a customer is how easy the Pirelli range mounts on a rim, and I can confirm this 100%. Although years of ripping tyres and tubs on and off rims has given me a knack, the VELO-42 mounted straight on WITHOUT levers and once inflated popped straight onto the bead with that satisfying ‘click’.

On the Road

First impressions aside, what matters most is how they ride on the road. Luckily the excellent first impression is backed up by simply sublime performance.

Weight wise they come in at 220g, virtually identical to the industry benchmark tyre the Continental GP4000S II, proving that now a modern 4 season dedicated tyre can be as competitive as a race tyre. Pirelli made impressive claims about their 4S model, excellent rolling resistance, wet weather grip with an increase in durability compared the their standard VELO.

How have they done this and have they achieved it? Firstly, Pirelli has utilised a technology called Ideal Contour Shaping allowing the tyre to conform to the road enhancing grip whilst reducing rolling resistance, combined with their Smartnet Sillica compound and the result is a tyre that zips across the road smoothly and confidently. To boost wet weather grip, Pirelli tweaked the design of the tread, introducing more of their Function Groove Design pattern wen compared to the VELO allowing the tyre to cut through lying water more effectively. But how do you make tyre last thousands of miles if the compound is so soft? Pirelli again tweaked the 4S here introducing an Aramid Pulp to the tyre compound, increasing durability without altering the compound.

Out on the road the VELO-4S is superb. Its currently late October/Early November and I’m still able to run these tyres at 100psi; my usual summer pressure whether the roads are soaking wet, damp or bone dry. The grip is excellent. In the wet they behave how I would expect, confidently carving thought puddles and lying water with enough feel and grip to lean on them quite aggressively. The magic happens however then the roads are damp, which in Cumbria is quite often. The compound Pirelli has chosen offers excellent grip, over the 1000 miles I’ve ridden on them so far I have never felt the tyre move or shimmy in the damp whether that is sprinting, climbing or descending, something I have very rarely been able to say and is extremely impressive, especially at 100psi. Durability of the tyre is again, superb with very little if any wear on the rear and the front showing even less, no punctures to report thanks to the aramid belt topping off a tyre that has firmly become my favourite all-season tyre.

Simply sublime all season tyres that offer unravelled grip in the wet, providing the confluence everyone needs through the bleak winter months.